Saint Estephe

Saint Estephe is at the north of the Haut Medoc, and is, maybe unfairly, perceived as the least famous, and the least illustrious of the big four Medoc communes. It is further away from the river Garonne, and therefore benefits less from the iconic gravel soils of the area; here the soil is heavier, and more clay based. The vines are slower to mature, and have high acidity, which in the past has led to the wines being either very tight and tannic, or simply severe and gutsy, maybe lacking the finesse of their southern brethren. These wines need more time to open and blossom than the other Medoc communes.

Cabernet Sauvignon used to dominate, and its natural high tannin, and late ripening characteristics added to the powerful nature and severity of the wines. In recent years, an increasing amount of the softer, early ripening Merlot has been grown, which has led to more approachable styles of wine.

At their best Saint Estephe wines can offer great value and include a number of 2nd growth wines (deuxieme cru classe), Chateau Cos d’Estournel, and Chateau Montrose.